Mrs. John (Rena) Buntjer of Forreston died Wednesday night, 08 Aug 1962 in Freeport, Stephenson, Illinois where she was admitted August 3rd to the  Freeport Hospital.  Rena J Buss (John was born Dec. 3, 1876, near Forreston, daughter of John and Fannie Buss.  She married John J. Buntjer, Sr. on 10 Jan 1901 in Forreston Grove Church, Forreston, Ogle, Illinois, USA, son of JOHN BUNTJER and ELIZABETH JANSSEN.  He was born 2 Oct 1879 in Germany, and died 15 Dec 1962 in Forreston, Ogle, Illinois, USA.   They farmed in the Forreston area until about 15 years ago when they moved to town.

Survivors include her husband; five sons, John of Lanark, Arthur of Milledgeville, Walter of Polo, Benjamin of Rock Falls, and Marvyn of Forreston; three daughters, Mrs. George Coupoulas, Mrs. Tony Agiou, and Mrs. John Siemens, all of Freeport; a sister, Mrs. None DeWall of Forreston; 25 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.

Source: The Journal-Standard; Freeport, Stephenson, Illinois

Funeral arrangements are pending at Dougherty-DeGraff Funeral Home.   Mrs. John (Rena) Buntjer died 8 Aug 1962  Burial: 11 Aug 1962, White Oak Cemetery, Forreston, Ogle, Illinois, USA

Children of RENA BUSS and JOHN BUNTJER are:
JOHN BUNTJER, JR., b. 24 Jun 1901, Forreston, Ogle, Illinois, USA; d. 19 Oct 1974, Iowa City, Johnson, Iowa, USA.
FAYE 'FANNIE' MARGARET BUNTJER, b. 14 Mar 1903, Forreston, Ogle co, Illinois, USA; d. 23 Sep 1993, Freeport, Stephenson, Illinois, USA.
ELIZABETH REINA BUNTJER, b. 29 Aug 1904; d. 24 Apr 1980, Freeport, Stephenson, Illinois, USA; m. ANTHONY 'TONY' AGIOU, 28 Sep 1943, Rockford, Winnebago, Illinois, USA; b. 10 Apr 1894, Greece; d. 25 Mar 1974, Lena, Stephenson, Illinois, USA.  Had no children.  Burial: 26 Apr 1980, Chapel Hill Cemetery, Freeport, Stephenson, Illinois, USA.   ANTHONY 'TONY' AGIOU:  Burial: Chapel Hill Cemetery, Freeport, Stephenson, Illinois, USA
ARTHUR 'ART' J. BUNTJER, b. 26 Nov 1905, Brookville Township, Ogle, Illinois, USA; d. 28 Nov 1983, Rockford, Winnebago, Illinois, USA.
REINA E. BUNTJER, b. 15 Apr 1908, Brookville Township, Ogle, , Illinois, USA; d. 2 May 1984, Freeport, Stephenson, Illinois, USA.
WALTER BUNTJER, b. 24 Jul 1910, Brookville, Ogle, Illinois, USA; d. 22 Jul 1974, Polo, Ogle, Illinois, USA.
BENJAMIN 'BENNIE' EDWARD BUNTJER, b. 3 Sep 1912, Forreston, Ogle, Illinois, USA; d. 28 Jun 1992, Sterling, Whiteside, Illinois, USA.
MARVYN HENRY BUNTJER, b. 24 Jul 1917, Forreston, Ogle, Illinois, USA; d. 30 Aug 1990, Freeport, Stephenson, Illinois, USA.


Updated information via Yvonne Burt - October 10th, 2007

Generation No. 1

Johann (John) R.¹ Buss was born 06 Dec 1837 in Hanover, Germany,, and died 14 Nov 1891 in Freeport, Illinois.  He married Fenke(Fenka) Brass 04 May 1863 in Stephen Co., Illinois lic#751, daughter of Jan Brass and Reina Jikker.  She was born 08 Apr 1845 in Harmswehrun, Ostfold, Hanover, Germany, Prussia, and died 03 Jan 1929 in Brookville, Ogle County, Illinois.

Notes for Johann (John) R. Buss:

Aritha's FT notes:

My Great Grandfather on my fathers side.

A Johann, Buss age 28 is listed on the Emigrant Ship Bark Johanna on May 16, 1866 to New York.  Under his name was Wilhelm Buss age 18. Could this be our Johann?

Johann and Fenke were very well off when they died.  They owned 5 farms.  It is said they gave each child $10,000.00.  That was in 1930.  This information came from Walter Buntjer son of Rena Buss-Buntjer.  Verena Buss said that she thinks they gave Reint money when he moved west.  That was in 1909.  Johann would have been dead by then so Fenke must have given him the money to start his own farm.

According to the 1920 census, Fenke was a widow living with her daughter Fannie.  Mardella Fransen, daughter of Alice Buss(Johann(Joe)Buss)(Johann R. Buss) got Johann death dates for me form the cemetery in Forriston, where he is buried.  Mardella still lives in Forreston, Illinois(2003)

Yvonne Burt got the dates from the cemetery  also and has death date as Nov. 17, 1891.

More About Johann (John) R. Buss:

Burial: Forreston Grove Cemetery, Forreston, Ogle County, Illinois

Notes for Fenke(Fenka) Brass:

Aritha's FT notes:

My Great Grandmother on my fathers side.

Illinois Death Certificate #0710036---Date Filed 6 Feb 1929

Given Name Fenke-Franka or Fannie Brass, Hanover, Preussen

On the 1920 Census Fenke was living with her daughter Fannie and listed as a widow.

Yvonne Buntjer who knew Fannie, Fenke's daughter, said Fannie took care of Fenke for over 20 years after Fenke had her stroke.  Said she was bed ridden, her dad said he never saw her out of bed.

The year 1900....Forreston, Ogle county, Illinois shows Fenka a widow at age 55-immigrated to US from Hanover, Germany 1862 (making her 17 at the time of immigration)

1870 census-Forreston, Ogle Co, IL- lists John, Fenka & 4 children + Dirk Buss age 76 and Tenkle (this name hard to read) age 66. (Dirk & Tenkle?) could be Fenka's parents.

More About Fenke(Fenka) Brass:

Burial: 07 Jan 1929, Forreston Grove Cemetery, Forreston, Olge County, Illinois

More About Johann Buss and Fenke(Fenka) Brass:

Marriage: 04 May 1863, Stephen Co., Illinois lic#751

Children of Johann Buss and Fenke(Fenka) Brass are:

i.    Dirk (Dick) J.² Buss, born 19 Feb 1864 in Forreston, Ogle Co., Illinois; died 08 Sep 1910 in Wellsburg, Grundy Co., Iowa.

ii.    Johann (Joe) Buss, born 18 Jul 1865 in Harper,Ogle County, Illinois; died 06 Jan 1951 in Shannon, Carroll County, Illinois.

iii.    Reint Jay Buss, born 27 May 1867 in Forreston, Ogle County,  IL; died 01 Jul 1943 in Britton, SD.

iv.    Tipka Buss, born 23 Feb 1869 in Forreston, Illinois; died 18 Jun 1942.

v.    Alka (Aalke) Buss, born 13 Sep 1870 in Forreston, Illinois; died 20 Dec 1934 in George, Iowa.

vi.    Margaret (Grietje) Buss, born 22 Feb 1877 in Illinois; died 17 Jul 1964 in Illinois.

vii.    John J. Buss, born Oct 1878 in Haldane,  Ogle County, Illinois; died 23 Mar 1954.

viii.    Rena (Reina) J. Buss, born 03 Dec 1875 in Forreston, Ogle County, Illinois; died 08 Aug 1962 in Freeport, Stephenson County, Illinois.

ix.    Henry John Buss, born 08 Feb 1881; died 08 May 1956.

x.    Fannie (Flora) Buss, born 16 Jun 1885; died 04 Oct 1961.

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